Conversations about diversity and inclusion across the legal profession are often underscored by an assumption that we need to legitimise the value of diversity within the profession, prompting a focus on the value of diversity to a firm’s bottom line and an assessment of the “business case” for diversity. While most legal professionals would probably […]
The past two or so years have been seminal for the progression of Black rights. The murder of George Floyd in May 2020 started a chain reaction that brought Black Lives Matter, one of the most concerted and global movements centred around the Black community I have seen in my lifetime, into the mainstream. Almost […]
Black Protest Legal Support (BPLS) was set up amid the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in May 2020. The primary aim was to monitor policing at BLM protests and to assist those who were arrested through the work of our Legal Observers. Legal Observers play a crucial role at any protest. ‘Policing the police’ as […]
I grew up with what I considered to be a relatively privileged background. Although my journey had its challenges, I was fortunate to have teachers and mentors who supported me during my formative years. Most importantly, they instilled in me the belief that any career is possible with the right work ethic. It’s made a […]
I cannot precisely recall the moment I decided I wanted to become a barrister. My earliest thoughts on career choices were inspired by a visit from a local police officer and fireman respectively, to my state primary school. However, my dad, who was a Crown Advocate in the CPS, was a constant fixture in my […]
To keep the momentum going, managing partners and GCs must lead by example, writes Kingsley Napley’s Shannett Thompson.
As a woman of Nigerian, Jamaican and English heritage, born and raised in the north of England and from a working-class background, I grew up with strong ambitions, work ethic and pride in my background and culture. So for me, Black History Month (BHM) is an opportunity to celebrate and remember the achievements of black […]
Coming from a Nigerian background there a few avenues you are pushed down, and my mum thought being a lawyer was what I was good at. Sciences didn’t work for me; law made sense at age 16. I was born in Oxford but grew up in Aylesbury. I have been in London for six years […]
I took Religious Studies, Business Studies, English and Spanish as A Levels. I liked reading, writing and analysing things that were linked to intellectual pursuits. I wanted to study something with languages and Law seemed like a good choice, so I read Law with Spanish at Sheffield. * Challenges came thick and fast and started […]
I spent my formative years in Ghana until the age of 12 when I moved to the UK. I went to school in Nottingham. It was at sixth form college where I found myself and where I met more diverse people – my school was mainly white. It was strange being surrounded by a sea […]
I was born in Nigeria and came to England when I was 15 to go to boarding school to do my A-Levels. I did a couple of degrees – economics in London and a law degree in Oxford. I did my articles at and joined Wilde Sapte as a litigator and that is what I […]
I moved to the UK (Romford in Essex) from Nigeria when I was 15 – that was a culture shock. Prior to that point I had never travelled outside of Nigeria. It was an interesting couple of years adjusting to the culture. Unusually, I studied law at A-Level. I enjoyed it so decided to study […]